By spending just an hour on a Metra commuter train, residents can efficiently travel from their home in the Prairie Crossing project to their jobs in downtown Chicago. And when they return home in the evening, these same residents can indulge in just one of the many amenities offered by their residential green community. Perhaps they will pick their children up from the LEED-certified community school, or swing by the farm to pick up some eggs, or even paddle a canoe over the surface of Lake Aldo Leopold, named after the great Wisconsin conservationist. Prairie Crossing, located in Grayslake, Illinois, is an experiment in green living that was designed with responsible development ethics, good mass transport opportunities, and land preservation in mind. The land on which Prairie Crossing was built was purchased in 1987 by a group of neighbors who wanted to preserve open space and agricultural land. They formed a company with the goal of developing the 677 acres responsibly. George and Victoria Post Ranney, a husband-and-wife team, have guided the development of Prairie Crossing since its beginning. All 359 of the single-family homes have been sold, and the first residents are moving into 36 condos in the latest phase. Given the success ...